Srinagar: All Parties Hurriyat Conference on Friday expressed amazement at the video statement given to a media agency by the LG of Jammu and Kashmir Manoj Sinha, where he refuted that the APHC chairman, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq is under house detention for the past three years since august 2019.
In a statement issued soon after the LG Sinha’s interview went viral, Hurriyat also denied the statement saying armed forces personnel stationed outside his house are there for Mirwaiz’s safety.
Hurriyat termed the “blatant misrepresentation of facts” and denial of Mirwaiz’s incarceration unbelievable.
“Mirwaiz for the last three years has forcibly not been allowed to come out of his house despite repeated appeals and implorations from all sections of people to the authorities, including religious ulemas across the state,” the statement said.
Newspaper and electronic media reports bear witness to it. Being the Mirwaiz he is even stopped from going to Jamia Masjid on Fridays to deliver religious sermons from its pulpit which is the centuries-old tradition in JK or to visit other religious places on important religious occasions. Except for close relatives, no one is allowed to enter the house. How can these facts be negated and claims of his not being under house arrest made, Hurriyat asked.
APHC said that if the authorities now want to release the Mirwaiz it is welcome, but giving such misleading statements to save face, is mischievous.
The statement further said that it also wants to clear the air on LG’s other statement in that interview that APHC leadership has been playing both sides.
APHC said that its chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq like his forefathers has always believed in and supported the fundamental truth of democracy- people’s right to make a choice in their future through nonviolent means, without fear or favour; and the subsequent belief that this is the road to lasting peace and prosperity for the entire subcontinent.
Mirwaiz and his forefathers represented and defended this basic interest of the people of JK in their engagements with both India and Pakistan and in the course suffered exile, Shahadat and incarceration, the statement said, adding, “It is the belief in these ideals that helped APHC chairman to bear the harshness and loneliness of house incarceration for the past three years”.
“There has never been any personal ambition of acquiring power to rule, or material gain that would tempt this leadership to play to or appease both or any side. Talks held with both India and Pakistan were only to find a resolution and get the people of Kashmir out of the vicious cycle of violence, the statement mentioned.
APHC said that its stand was and is consistent- the conflict of JK has to be resolved as per the aspirations of its people and to the satisfaction of the other two parties involved in the conflict namely India and Pakistan, through peaceful means preferably dialogue and deliberations.
The statement said APHC has in the past and will in the future support every endeavor in this direction, safeguarding the interests of the people of JK.
Meanwhile, it said that if the authorities have now decided to release the Mirwaiz, let him be allowed to deliver the Friday sermon at Jamia Masjid this Friday and let them not stop people from assembling there to listen to him. APHC reiterates its appeal to release all political prisoners, youth and activists detained in jails across India, the statement ends.
Pertinently, LG Sinha earlier in the day claimed that Hurriyat Conference leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq is not under house arrest, the administration of Jammu and Kashmir has kept cops around him for his safety.
“Mirwaiz Umar Farooq is not under house arrest. We have kept cops around him for his safety. He should decide what he wants,” Sinha said in an interview with BBC.
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